Progressive fish farmer Raj Kumar Tangori is serving as a torch bearer and paving a way for those farmers, who are facing financial crisis. He started the fish farming in the year 2001 and at present his annual income amounts to Rs 15 lakh. He has continuously expanded his activities and today he is doing fish farming on 12 acres of land, which he has taken on lease.Explaining this Raj Kumar said that he got the initial training for this farming from Fisheries Department, Punjab and he is mainly supplying 05 varieties of fishes, which includes Rohu, Catla, Golden Fish, Mrigal and Grasscarp. His per acre production varies from 22 to 25 quintal which has been sold at average price of Rs. 100 per kg. As such, the income from one acre land touch the mark of Rs. 2.5 lacs. After deducting input cost which includes the lease cost also, he earn Rs. 1.25 lacs per acre as net profit.He said that the office of Fishery department, Punjab situated at SAS Nagar is fully cooperating and guiding him.With the advice of this department he has moved forward for the new variety called Pangas and introduced 40,000 seeds in his ponds. As per the assurance of the department this variety would give an output of 50 quintals per acre which would raise his income. Raj Kumar said that although the department provides assistance regarding marketing but he himself also work on marketing.
He is easily selling all his produce in the Chandigarh. He appealed the farmers to move ahead for fishery as an allied occupation, it would definitely boost their income.In this regard, Senior Fisheries Officer, Jatinder Singh Gill said that fishery is very beneficial occupation for farmers. District SAS Nagar shares its boundaries with Chandigarh because of which marketing is not a big issue. He disclosed that the department also provides five days initial technical training to those farmers, who want to go ahead for fish farming. During this farmers are trained according to the requirements which includes increase in productivity, modern techniques and knowledge regarding basics of the fishery.Explaining further about the schemes of the department he said that department provides loan of Rs 03 lac per hectare for excavation of fish pond, which includes subsidy of Rs. 60 Thousand for general category applicant and Rs. 75 thousand for the applicant of SC/ BC category. Apart from this loan of Rs. 75 thousand is also being provided for repair/upgradation of old ponds which includes subsidy of Rs. 15 thousand per acre for general category and Rs. 18750 per acre for SC/BC category. 50 thousand rupees are provided as loan for the first year's initial inputs which includes subsidy of Rs. 10 thousand for general category and Rs. 12500 for SC/BC category.